Fuel injection device



Patented Mar. 20, 1945f FUEL INJECTION DEvIozE EarlvM. Ward, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner of twenty-five per cent to `George C. Sullivan,

Hollywood, Calif.

Application 9 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the solid fuel injection type, and more particularly to an improvement in the fuel injecting devices in which the pump Iand injector form a single unit which is actuated automati cally under the action of the `compression pressure of the engine cylinder.

Injection devices are usually designed and adapted-to internal combustion engines which do not employ ignition systems. My invention is adaptable to engines which employ ignition sys-'- tems equally as Well as those which do not employ external firing means. It is further adapted to both Otto and Diesel cycle engines.

'I'his invention provides a construction of injection device which is extremely simple, efficientinv operation, easy to. manufacture, economical in cost, light in weight and easy to keep in adjustnient.l

More particularly my invention includes fuel injection apparatus comprisingl an adjustable plunger, a fully floating sleeve and cylinder, a metering chamber and valve, a hydraulic `cushion stop for the plunger, a differential area or actuating piston adjacent to and in direct and full communication with and forming the boundary of the combustion chamber, a check valve September 3, 1940, 'Serial No. 355,173

(Cl. 10B- 150) in section of the differential area piston, an essential part of the injector shown in vFigure II.

Figure Ishows an engine according to my ina vention in which the usual pump and timer is incorporated in the 4designpf the injector l5. The pump is operated, thus timing the injection period, by the compression pressure Within the combustion chamber I3. This figure illustrates the invention in an internal combustion engine of the type which requires an ignition system as is illustrated by plug I6. It is to be understood enclosed within'thehactuating piston and controlling the passage which is in direct communication with the injection spray tip, and means to adjust the plunger and valve to control the quantity o f fuel injected.

The primary object, therefore, is to provide an apparatus for metering and injecting acharge with extreme rapidity, necessitating a device of simple and light weight design and capable of being limited in its action by cushioning means.

Another object is to providev a reliable operating lmechanism in the form of an adjustable plunger and a floating sleeve and cylinder assembly, so

. that alignment is easily obtained. The full oating feature of my invention is particularly desirable in that it is readily adaptable to servicing, is self-aligning, and eliminates precision fitting i'n manufacturing. A further Objectis to provide an apparatus sofco-nstructed that it. will not require an excessive amount of precision and accurate fabrication.

, Further objects Aand advantages, together with the detailed construction of the invention,rwill be'evident from the following description and drawing, in which Figure I is a typical illustration of the new method of fuel injection required by my invention? Figure II is a view in section of the injector and Figure III is an enlarged view that the injector l5 is not to b e limited to such type of system but is equally adaptable to engines of the compression ignition type.

Figures II and III of the drawing illustrate the constructionof .the injection means, which comprises in general, a housingv or body 20,-an ad justable injector plunger 2|, an injector cylinder 22, a cylinder sleeve 23, a differential area piston 24, a restraining spring 25 and a nozzle or spray tip 26. I prefer'to construct cylinder 22 and pis-- ton 24 in a single unit. The fuel enters the injector at 21, fiowsthrough the passage 28 and out ports 29 into the area 30 which surrounds the cylinder 22. The fuel is then directed through ports 3| into the chamber 32. When the cylinder 22 is moved by means of compression pressure within the cylindertoward the inlet 21, fuel is forced out of chamber 32 through passages 33 past the valve tip 34 into the-area 35 surrounding the spray valve 36 .and nally leaving the injector through the nozzle or spraytip 26 at 31. The valve tip 34 is kept inthe closed position by the spring 38. During the injection period, the fuel passes out of the area 35 through notches 39 cut in the valve stem 36.

The. quantity of fuel which is injected is determined by the position and design of the Valve sion temperature is a maximum at the top dead center of the piston stroke which is substantially the opportune time to inject the fuel charge. Modern construction injects the fuel from five l to fifteen degreesbefore top dead center depending primarily on the engine speed. By the de-l sign and adjustment of the spring 25, the time 12 fof injection can be varied to suit the installation. My invention provides a simple means of varying the operatingy load at which the piston 24 will actuate the mechanism. I provide shims 42 oi various thicknesses, 'which can be added.

or taken out in order to obtain the correct spring tension. I also provide a thrust bearing 43 which facilitates adjustment of the plunger 2l by mea of the leverl.

As the piston moves due to compression pressure in the cylinder, the pressure acts on the area of piston exposed Yat the spray tip 26 and when the desired pressure is reached, it forces the piston f 24 off its seat 44, thus causing the pressure to act on the total area of the piston which moves it very rapidly against the restraining spring 2-5, resulting in' a very rapid fuel injection. The spray tip 2E is easily removed for cleaning or servicing.v

i Itv will be apparent that the chamber 32 'when filled 'with fuel will present a cushioned limit or 'stop between' the 'movement' of the plunger'2l and the cylinder 22. This is particularly advantageous and is a great improvement in the art iii-that it eliminates the usual metallic stop, as constructed 'ininjectors heretofore, which is subject to a great amount of wear andv its accompanying service requirements. The cushioned stop is also verydesrableinthat it is quiet 'in its operation.v

The injector bodymay be attached 'to the cylinder Ahead 'of the engine by means of bolts through' holes 4B in the body of the injector.

` It is evident that'according to my invention the internal movable structure of the fuel injection device, namely, the adjustable injector plunger 2l, the injector cylinder 22, the .cylinder sleeve 23 and the differential area piston 24 are so constructed and arranged that they are automatically 'self-aligning," the self-aligning control points being in this illustration the circular head 41 forming a part V'of the injector .plunger 2| and the shoulder 48 forming a part of the differential piston 24. It will be apparent that this featurei d variousdetails ofthis particular embodiment, but

wish to be accorded the broad scope of my inventionas defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fuel injector to be actuated by a variable uid pressure, the combination of a housingY including a fuel inlet, a differential' piston device in direct and full communication with and adapted to be operated by said variable iiuid pressure, said device having a fuel passage and a fuel outlet` yieldablemeans for actuating said piston device, a sleeve to transmit motion between said differential piston device and said 'yieldable means, a cylinder carried by said piston device Vand conned by saidsleeve, said cylinder having a, telefsgcopic, plungerv means therein and includingfafchamberffor fuel which is adapted to be lends itself well to mass proadapted to be adjusted by rotary movement of said plunger to meter fuel between said inlet and said fuel chamber.

2. Inv a fuel injector to be actuated by a variable iiuid pressure, a combination of a housing including a fuel inlet, a piston device including a fuel outlet indirect and full communication withy and adapted to be operated by said variable uid pressure, said device having a passage to conduct fuel to said outlet, yieldable means for actuating said piston device, a sleeve and cylinder disposed within said yieldable means carried by said piston device, and a plunger means telescopic within said cylinder to form a fuel chamber said .plunger means and fuel chamber forming a hydraulic cushion for movement between said cylinder and said plunger, said plunger means having a passage to conduct fuel from-said inlet to said fuel ,chamber and including a valve adapted to be adjusted by rotary movement to meter fuel between `said inlet-and said fuel chamber.

3..A, fuel injecting device comprising in com- Y bination, a housing including a fuel inlet, a piscylinder to form a fuel chamber, said plunger -meansincluding a passage to conduct fuel from said inlet to saidfuel chamber and having a valve adapted-to be'adjusted by rotary movement of said telescopic plunger means to meter fuel between said inlet and said fuel chamber; said plunger means and fuel chamber forming a hydraulic cushion for limiting the relative movement between said cylinder and said plunger.

4. A-fuel injecting device tobe actuated by a variable fiuidpressure comprising a housing with .a fuel inlet, a piston device to be actuatei and controlled byY said variable fluid pressure having a fuel passage and outlet, yieldable means for actuating said piston device, a sleeve to transmit motion between said piston device and said yieldable means, a constant stroke cylindercarried by said piston device and confined by said sleeve, a

plunger meains telescopic within said cylinder A to form`-a fuel chamber,` said plunger means including a fuelfpassage to conduct fuel from said fuel inlet to said fuel chamber and a valve Y adapted to be adjusted by rotary movement of said telescopic plunger means to meter fuel from said inlet to said fuel chamber, said plunger means' and fuel chamber forming a hydraulic rcushion for limiting the relative movement between said cylinder and said plunger.

5. A fuel injecting device comprisnga housing having a fuel passage and fuel inlet, a Pismetered by said plunger means,` said plunger means having a passage to conduct fuel from` said inlet to said fuel chamber and a valve yieldable means carried by said piston device,

and a plunger means telescopic within said cylinder, said plungermeansincluding a fuel passage to conduct fuel from said fuel inlet to said fuel chamber and having arvarve adapted to be adjusted by rotary movement to meter fuel between said inlet and said outlet, said plunger means and cylinder forminga hydraulic vcushion for limiting vthe relative movement between ysaid cylinder'and saidphmger.

6. A fuel iniectingdevice comprising a housing having a fuel inlet, a Piston device having a fuel passage and fuel outlet, said device ,be-

ing actuated and controlled by a variable fluid pressure and having a shoulder adapted to contact said housing, yieldable means for actuating said piston device, a sleeve and cylinder disposed within said yieldable means carried by said piston device, and a plunger means telescopic within said cylinder to form a fuel chamber, said plunger means having an adjustable point of contact with said housing and including a fuel passage to conduct fuel from said fuel inlet to said fuel chamber and a valve to meter fuel Vbetween said inlet and said fuel chamber, said piston. sleeve, cylinder and plunger being so constructed and arranged about said 'shoulder and said adjustable point of contact that positive self-alignment within said housing is assured.

7. A fuel injecting device comprising a housing having a fuel inlet, a piston device having a fuel outlet, said device being actuated and con-` trolled by a variable fluid pressure and having passages to supply fuel to said outlet, yieldable means for actuating said piston device, a sleeve carried by said piston device, a constant stroke cylinder conne'd within said sleeve, and -a plunger means telescopic within said cylinder to r form a fuel chamber, said plunger means having a fuel passage to conduct fuel from said inlet to said chamber and including a rotary type valve to meter fuel between said inlet and said fuel chamber, said piston, sleeve, constant stroke cylinder, and plunger being so arranged and constructed to automatically seek self-alignment within said housing.

8. A fuel injecting device comprising a housing having a fuel inlet. a piston device having a fuel outlet, passages to supply fuel from sail inlet to said outlet, said device being actuated and controlled by a variable iiuid pressure and having a shoulder adapted to contact said housing, yieldable means for actuating said piston. device, a sleeve and cylinder disposed within said -yieldable means carried by said piston device.

and a plunger means telescopic within said cylinder to form a fuel chamber, said plunger means having Va -vaive adapted to be adjusted by rotary movement to meter fuel between 4said inlet and said fuel chamber, said plunger means being so constructed and arranged in relation to said piston, sleeve, and cylinder, that positive self-alignment within said housing is assured.

9. A fuel injecting device comprising a housing having a fuel inlet, a piston device including a fuel outlet and having a shoulder adapted to contact said housing, passages to supply fuel from said inlet to said outlet, yieldable means for actuating saidpiston device, a cylinder disposed withn said yieldable means` carried by said piston device, a plunger telescopic within said cylinder and having an alignable point of contact with said housing and said fuel inlet, said plunger including valve adapted to be adjusted by rotary movement to meter fuel between said inlet and said fuel chamber, and a hydraulic cushion stop means formed by the chamber be- '30 tween said plunger and said cylinder, said piston device, cylinder and plunger means being so arranged and constructed about said shoulder and said alignable point of contact to provide positive self-alignment within said housing.

' EARL M. WARD. 

